Mine car



H. w. SANFORD MINE CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1944 H. W. SANFORD June 26, 1951 MINE CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet? Filed Nov. 17, 1944 4||||| lillilllllllu 1.

June 26, 1951 H. w. SANFORD 2,558,391

' MINE CAR Filed Nov. 17, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w I. i l 1 r 41E '4 J I a K534i 7 J5 Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINE CAR Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,885

This invention relates to improvements in mine cars of the character used for transporting coal or other materials from a loading point and discharging said materials through the bottom of the car by releasing drop bottom doors therein.

It has been customary heretofore generally to utilize four-wheel mine cars for this purpose, wherein the wheels are mounted on axles extending transversely of the car frame and rigid with respect thereto. While that is satisfactory for ordinary purposes, the need has arisen and is becoming increasingly felt, for providing greater capacity in the mine car than can be obtained with four-wheel mine cars, especially where the head room in the mining operations is limited and where it is necessary to confine the walls of the car to relatively low height. tracks in the mine frequently are curved on relatively short radius which imposes a limitation on the wheel base of the four-wheel car that is relatively short.

In my prior patent, No, 1,796,347, March 17, 1931, I have set forth a drop bottom mine car mounted on trucks swiveled at opposite ends of the frame to allow extension of the car to somewhat greater length than the wheel base of a four-wheel car, thereby providing an eight-wheel drop bottom mine car, wherein a bank of three or four doors in the bottom support the lading for dropping upon opening of the doors.

It is not practical to use a battery of more than three or four doors in such. a mine car because of the long span between the end sills that would thereby result with all of the lading suspended therebetween. Any greater number of doors would not operate practically in sequence, and the doors cannot be extended unduly in length without danger of sagging under the load. Furthermore, if the number of doors should be increased to accommodate an extended length of the car, the car would be located further out over the storage bin when all of the doors are open simultaneously and would drag on the coal in the partly filled bin underneath, because these would be released by a single latch mechanism, so they would drop and drag simultaneously. This would not be the case necessarily where the doors are divided into two or more batteries which may be unlatched separately. Therefore, a car of that character cannot be extended to the Moreover, the

6 Claims. (Cl. 105289) desired degree for capacity and yet obtain proper and efiicient operation.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction of the mine car to increase its capacity, to enable it to be mounted on eight-wheel swiveled trucks, and to extend its overall length, while yet providing for eflicient and practical operation of the drop bottom doors by providing a sumcient number of doors to accommodate the extended length of the car.

I have found that this may be accomplished successfully by utilizing two or more batteries of doors, each battery being composed of a plurality of doors interconnected for successive or joint operation and the batteries being adapted for individual release for discharge of the lading.

Another object of the invention is to increase the capacity of the car by providing low level side wall flare plates in conjunction with drop bottom doors that seal at their lateral edges very closely to the track gauge line. This provides a very wide door opening which will increase materially the capacity of the car.

A further object of the invention is to improve the latching means for doors such that the latching means may be operated from beneath the car by unlatching devices located in the track, and yet will not be released accidentally or prematurely due to the momentum of the car when suddenly stopped, and at the same time the latching means may be installed not only at the end of the car but also at an intermediate portion thereof to control a second battery of doors in smaller longitudinal dimension of the car structure than has been possible with latching devices used heretofore, especially when operated from beneath the car.

Such latch mechanism preferably comprises latches that are mounted for movement transversely of the car adapted to engage the free edge portions of the doors of the respective batteries and adapted to release the doors for dropping. The latches are constructed capable of being operated positively from beneath the car by means located in the track. This mounting of the latches for movement transversely of the car prevents the latches from becoming loosened by the momentum of the car when stopped suddenly, and also it enables the latches to be installed in a smaller longitudinal dimension of thecar structure than if the latches were mounted longitudinally of the car.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal diagrammatic view of the complete eight-wheel car;

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section therethrough taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of the car;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section through the door latch intermediate the length of the car;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view partly in section of the end door latch;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view therethrough substantially on the line 'i-1 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation thereof taken substantially on the line 8-3 of Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the car body is shown as formed preferably of a pair of opposed side channels i turned inward at opposite sides of the car and forming the upper portions of the side walls of the car. Extending downwardly and inwardly from the side channels I are side flare plates 2 riveted to the lower edge portions of the side channels i, as shown in Fig. embraced with respect thereto by inside gusset brackets 3 which bear against the side channels I and the flaring side plates 2 at the inner faces thereof.

The inner edges of the side flare plates 2 are secured to longitudinal side sill members 4 that are shown to be of modified channel form having an out-turned flange at the upper edge joined to the adjacent side flare plate 2 by rivets, and an out-turned reinforcing side flange at the lower edge of said sill member A. Each side plate 2 projects inwardly beyond the attached sill member 4 to form an extended lip, designated 5, to increase the sealing relation thereof with the adjacent door as hereinafter described.

The side plates 2 are braced externally by gusset brackets ii each of which extends upwardly from the side sill member 1 to the under edge of the side channel I. These gusset members 6 are spaced at intervals along the length of the car sufficiently to brace the side plates 2, and

preferably are at the same points as the inside gusset brackets 3, as shown in Fig. 4.

The opposite ends of the car comprise I-beams I extending transversely between the side channels l, but spaced from the outer ends of the side channels, so that said channelsproject beyond the I-beams and have the draft and draw bar structure attached thereto as hereinafter described. End plates 8 are attached to the inner faces of the beams l and extend downwardly and inwardly therefrom, being joined to opposite ends of the side plates 2 and sill members l and cooperating therewith to enclose the drop bottom openings in the car, as will be evident from Figs. 1 and 4. F

The combined bumper and draw bar structure at each opposite end of the car comprises a transverse channel member 9 supported at the top and bottom, respectively, by plates [9 and II that extend lengthwise of the beam '5 and are joined at opposite ends to the side channels 5, the top plate Ill being spaced downwardly from the upper edgesgof the side channels but braced by angle bars 2. The bumper is mounted in front of the channel 5, between the plates ii) and l I, as indicated at l3, enclosed by a yoke Is that receives the 'draft pin l5. 1 Secured at the underside of each opposite end.

of the car body is an upper block it seated on a universal mounting ll of a lower block 18. The upper and lower blocks l6 and it are connected together by a king pin I9 (Fig. 4) for relative portion of the car to accommodate for curves in i the track in the usual manner.

Also interposed between the truck 20 and the transverse plate structure is a side bearing on each opposite side of the supporting block structure l6-l3. This lateral bearing comprises a side bearing block H in position to bear upon a bearing plate 28, as shown in Fig. 2.

The space between the sides and ends of the car is adapted to be opened for discharge of the lading therethrough, but is normally closed by two batteries of three doors each, which batteries of doors are indicated generally in Fig. 1, by the numerals 23 and 24, at the forward and rearward portions of the car. Each battery of doors includes forward, middle and rearward doors 2%, 26 and 2?, pivotally supported at their forward edges for downward swinging movement to dumping positions. The free edges of the forward and middle doors, in the form shown, are supported upon the hinge edges of the next succeeding rearward door, which latter, nevertheless, is slidable endwise on its pivot to release the supported edge of the next forward door for dropping when the rearward door has dropped.

Whereas the construction here referred to comprises overlapping doors which operate in 12-3 order as frequently used heretofore, the same general car construction and door latching means hereinafter described could be used in a car having drop bottom doors which mutually support each other in any of the various fashions that have been in use heretofore, or which may, in fact, be relatively independent of each other.

Each of the doors is mounted in the space be tween the side sill members a as shown in Fig. 3, and extends transversely substantially to said side sill members in relatively close relation therewith. Each of the doors has an upstanding flange 28 along the edge thereof substantially in sealing relation with the adjacent sill member A, but overlapped at the top by the edge portion 5 of the sloping side wall 2. This construction eliminates the longitudinal leak crack which has been in use heretofore, existing between the edge of the door and the adjacent sill, which would allow some coal to leak from the doors in closed positions.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lateral flare plates 2 extend upward from the upper edges of the sill members i at a very low level, while the sill members s are disposed with their inner edges in very close relation to the inner faces of the track wheels 22, and therefore very close to the track gauge line. This provides for an increased width of drop bottom door which, in the form illustrated, is approximately three inches less than the track gauge, thus providing a large capacity car. The lateral edges of the drop bottom doors will be disposed very close the base of the rails when the doors are dropped. If necessary, the ner s of the as o the. rails may be trimmed off on the bin side at the point of dumping to allow increased clearance for the doors. This arrangement locates the upright web of the sill member A! at the lateral edge of the door opening in an upright longitudinal plane located very close to the inner face of the wheels 22, and at a point outside the inner edge of the wheel hub, as shown in Fig. 2.

The free edge of the door 2'! of each battery of doors is adapted to be latched for release when desired by latching means that may he released from a point externally of the car. Preferably such latching means is adapted to be actuated from a point beneath the car by a tripping device mounted in the track in position to engage and operate each latch the car thereover. While the latch device itself may he of any suitable or desirable construction, I have shown as the preferred form of latches for this type of car latch devices that are mounted to move transversely, rather than longitudinally, of the car. It is preferred also to space the latch devices for each door 2'! at a point laterally of the longitudinal center line of the car, two or more such latch devices being provided for the free edge of each door 27.

Each door 2'5 is accordingly provided on its free edge with laterally spaced trunnions as each of which is adapted to be engaged by a latch hook for holding the door closed and to release the door for dropping. In the form shown latch devices are provided for the respective batteries of doors Z3 and 24 as indicated generally at 36 and 3!, each latch device comprising a latch hook mounted to engage a trunnion 29, and operating means for the hook.

The latch devices (it are mounted on a transverse plate 32 which extends from side-to-side of the car and is supported at opposite ends thereof by the side sill members 4. The plate 32 is located beneath a cross-tie and shield angle 33- that extends between the side plates 2, with an upstanding tie plate 34 (Fig. l) thereabove. Shield plates 35 and 3E depend from opposite edges of the cross-tie 33 to enclose the latch space therebetween and protect the latch devices from the lading in the car.

The latch devices 3! are protected and supported by frame structure including cross tie members 3? on which is secured a supporting plate iii the upper edge of which is joined to the end plate 8 or" the car. A cover 3% extends forwardly from the end plate it and downwardly therefrom, carrying a shield plate lil on its lower edge extending into relatively close relation with the free edge of the door 2?.

The latch devices 35 and 3! are substantially identical in construction. and only one need be described in detail.

Each of the latch devices comprises a latch hook H having a seat at one edge thereof at 42 (Fig. 8) in position to engage the corresponding trunnion 2! The latch hook M is pivotally supported on a bolt carried by the supporting plate 32 or 38 for lateral swinging movement to engage or release the trunnion 29. At its pivot end the latch hook ii has formed integral therewith a lateral shelf dd between which and a bracket 45 is interposed a spring 56 normally tending to urge the latch hook ll into its trunnion-supporting position. A stop il is in the path of upward swinging movement of the shelf id to limit this swinging movement of the latch hook M by the action of the spring at.

The latch hook 4! is adapted to be released by a tripping device including a shank 48 journaled in brackets 4t fixed to the forward face of the supporting plate 3'2 or 3B. Extending forwardly from the shank All is a finger 5t engaging loosely in an elongated slot iii formed in the latch hook 4|. Also secured to the shank tit and laterally bent from the lower end thereof is a tripping arm 52, the free end of which is adapted to be engaged by a knock-out device, such as an arm 58 mounted in the trackway for upward movement relative thereto, as set forth, for instance, in my prior application on Door Latch Mechanisms, filed February 25, 11%2, Ser. No. 432,341, now Patent No. 2,399,708, May 7, 1946. While that form of knock-out device may he used to trip the latch, it will be evident that other hnock-out devices are also applicable for this purpose as desired.

In the operation of this form of tripping mechanism, the car will move along the track in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 to its point of dumping. As the car reaches that point, or a point adjacent thereto, the latch hooks ll should be actuated during the movement of the car along the track to release the doors for dropping during the passage of the car over the tipple. A suitable knock-out device, as indicated generally at is provided in the trackway at a point to engage and actuate each of the latch devices 352 and (ii successively at the middle and rear end of the car.

The knock-out device 53 will be in proper position to engage the arm 52 as the car moves thereover, and the forward movement of the car will cause swinging movement of this tripping device about the axis of the shank 3-3. This in turn will move the finger to the dotted line position in Fig. 6, which will cause lateral swinging movement of the latch hook ii about its pivot 23 sufficiently to release the trunnion 2d from its seat 42, allowing the rearward door to drop onto the track. This dropping movement of the rearward door will cause it to slide rearwardly of the car,

withdrawing its hinged edge from beneath the.

free edge of the next forward door and thus sue cessively releasing in like manner the doors Eii and 25, ready for dropping open when the car reaches the tipple.

The latch devices 3t will he released simultaneously, and thereafter the latch devices 3!! will be released in like manner upon engagement of the knock-out device Then both batteries of doors will be closed in succession as the car passes from the tipple and latched in closed positions. Immediately after release of the knock-out device 53 from the arm as the car passes over said device, the spring will return the latch hook M to its normal latching position ready to engage the trunnion 25 when the door swings upward to its latched position after release of the lading.

The latch devices here provided are disposed entirely above the lower edges of the side sills of the car in protected positions and yet have tripping means connected therewith capable of being engaged from beneath the car by meansmounted at the track for tripping the latches as the car moves thereover. This protects the latch devices against danger of accidental tripping thereof, damage thereto, or their destruction, due to obstructions on the track.

At the same time, the transversely moving latch hook does not tend to become loosened by momentum when the car is stopped suddenly. Furthermore, it may be mounted within a re1atively small area longitudinally of the car which will, therefore, allow the maximum capacity of the car for the overall dimensions thereof.

This invention makes it practical to manufacture cars thirty feet or more in length, which would require as many as six drop bottom doors. If all of those doors were inter-connected in one battery, there would be diificulty in tripping them and properly controlling them. Where there are so many doors, one of which controls another, if by any chance a door should be allowed to fall improperly, there would be too many doors down at one time, and it would be very difficult to get them all back into place again. Moreover, when such a six-door car is controlled by one set of latch hooks and all of the doors are released at once, it would take a great deal of power to drag of these doors over the coal in the bin to the point where the doors can fall free and discharge the coal thereon. These diliiculties are obviated by providing two or more batteries of doors, each battery being composed of three or four doors controlled by one set of latch hooks, which can be so controlled as to discharge in one-two-three order. The separate batteries of doors being individually controlled, may be released independently or successively. Such an arrangement makes it practical to provide and use cars of extended length and having many drop doors each of which has a practical limitation as to its length.

I claim:

1. In a mine car, a lading body having a bottom opening for the discharge of lading therefrom, a drop bottom door for closing said opening hinged at one edge about an axis extending transversely of the length of the car, latch means for supporting the opposite edge of said door, said latch means including a member pivotally mounted for swinging movement transversely of the length of the car in position to releasably engage the free edge or the door, an actuating device operatively connected with the latch member and including an arm portion movable lengthwise of the car upon engagement by means located externally of the car to move the latch member for releasing the door.

2. In a mine car, a lading body having a bottom opening for the discharge of lading therefrom, a drop bottom door for closing said opening hinged at one edge about an axis extending transversely of the length of the car, latch means for supporting the opposite edge of said door, said latch means including a member pivotally mounted for swinging movement transversely of the length of the car in position to releasably engage the free edge of the door, an actuating device operatively connected with the latch memher and including an arm portion movable lengthwise of the car upon engagement by means located externally of the car to move the latch member for releasing the door, and means pivotally mounting said arm for swinging movement about a substantially vertical axis during said movement thereof longitudinally of the car.

3. In a mine car, a lading body having a bottom opening for the. discharge of lading therefrom, a drop bottom door for closing said opening hinged at one edge about an axis extending transversely of the length of the car, latch means for supporting the opposite edge of said door, said latch means including a latch member pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement transversely of the length of the car and adapted to engage and support the free edge of the door, said latch member having a slot therein, an actuating member pivotally supported on the body for swinging movement about a substantially vertical axis, said actuating member including a finger extending into said slot for actuating the latch member and an arm projecting laterally in position to be engaged by means located externally of the car, said arm being in position for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the car about the vertical axis of the actuating member.

4. In a conveyance, a lading body having a bottom opening for the discharge of lading therefrom, a drop bottom door for closing said opening and hinged at one edge about an axis extending transversely of the length of the conveyance, and latch means for supporting the opposite edge of said door, said latch means including a latch pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement transversely of the length of the conveyance and adapted to engage the free edge of the door, an actuating member pivotally supported on the body for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the conveyance and having an articulated connection with the latch for causing transverse swinging movement of the latch upon longitudinal movement of the actuating member, said actuating member having a portion thereof in position to be engaged by means located beneath the conveyance, said actuating member and latch being located wholly above the lower edge of the portion of the lading body in the same longitudinal vertical plane thereof and within the lateral confines of the side edges of the body in the same horizontal plane.

5. In a conveyance, a lading body having a bottom opening for the discharge of lading therefrom, a drop bottom door for closing said opening and hinged at one edge about an axis extending transversely of the length of the conveyance, and latch means for supporting the opposite edge of said door, said latch means including a latch pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement transversely of the length of the conveyance and adapted to engage the free edge of the door, an actuating member mounted on the body and including means mounted for swinging movement in a direction substantially lengthwise of the conveyance, said member having an articulated connection with the latch for causing transverse swinging movement of the latch upon longitudinal movement of said lengthwise swinging means, said last-mentioned means being in position to be engaged by means located beneath the conveyance for operating the actuating member thereby.

6. In a conveyance, a lading body having a bottom opening for the discharge of lading therefrom, a drop bottom door for closing said opening and hinged at one edge about an axis extending transversely of the length of the conveyance, and latch means for supporting the opposite edge of said door, said latch means including a latch pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement transversely of the length of the conveyance and adapted to engage the free edge of the door, an actuating member mounted on the body and including means mounted for swinging movement in a direction substantially lengthwise of the conveyance, said member having an articulated connection with the latch for causing transverse swinging movement of the latch upon longitudinal movement of said lengthwise swinging means, said last-mentioned means being in position to be engaged by means located beneath the conveyance for operating the actuating member 9 thereby, said actuating member and latch being located'wholly above the lower portion of the lading body in the same longitudinal vertical plane thereof and within the lateral confines of the side edges of the body in the same horizontal plane.

HUGH W. SANFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Peteler July 23, 1901 Number Number Number 

